Prof Wen Weiping at the School of Software and Microelectronics at Peking University also backs these claims by telling China Daily that "cyber-sabotage" targeting China is growing rapidly.

BBC: China media: Hacking denial

The essence of China's thinking about cyber warfare is the concept of shi, he says, first introduced in Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" about 2, 500 years ago.

WSJ: The Weekend Interview with Timothy Thomas: Why China Is Reading Your Email

But China is far from the only country engaged in cyber-espionage.

ECONOMIST: Hackers hit big companies, the IMF and the headlines

One answer is to seek new roles: cyber-defence, and building ties with India and China.

ECONOMIST: NATO and Russia

China denied the allegations, saying it was also the victim of cyber attacks.

BBC: China

One recent GEM offering, telecom solutions provider Neolink Cyber Technology, was undersubscribed, forcing co-sponsor China Everbright Securities to take up 55 million unsold shares.

CNN: World's Worst Bourse?

In other international news, Xinhua and China Daily highlight calls by Chinese and US officials and experts for more cyber-security co-operation and less "blame or accusations without evidence" of state-sponsored hacker attacks, during the US-China Internet Industry Forum in Beijing.

BBC: China media: Views on North Korea

China, which called the Mandiant report flawed, says that it opposes hacking activities and is a victim of cyber attacks itself.

BBC: China and US hail 'shared interests'